What Is Bilberry?You’ve probably heard of eating carrots to help your eyesight, and that’s because they contain carotenoids, which are powerful phytochemicals that protect vision. However, they’re not the only phytochemicals that can protect against diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration – both consequences of untreated diabetes. The berry of the bilberry bush, a relative of the American blueberry, contains phytochemical compounds known as flavonoids. The flavonoids found in the bilberry then classified as anthocyanosides, which are powerful antioxidants. Anthocyanosides are prescribed regularly in Europe to treat eye diseases, and can actually improve night vision, maintain healthy vision and slow the degeneration of the retina and macula in diabetes-related eye diseases, as well as treat cataracts, varicose veins and even hemorrhoids.

How Does Bilberry Work?The active compound in bilberries, anthocyanosides, are extremely potent antioxidants that fight free radical damage, which can destroy cell membranes and allow pathogens to damage the delicate organelles that live inside each of our cells and cause disease. Antioxidants are important weapons to destroy free radicals that are formed from normal metabolic processes, cigarette smoke, and other environmental pollutants.

Anthocyanosides are especially important compounds to those suffering from diabetes, which can lead to poor eye health and even blindness, if the diabetes is not controlled. Bilberry is specifically helpful to the area of the eye known as the retina, which is the light-sensitive part of the eye. It helps the retina maintain the ability to adapt to both light and dark, which is especially helpful to those who suffer from poor night vision. Bilberry’s ability to improve the health of the retina comes from its strengthening power on the capillaries of the eye – tiny blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the eyes. Bilberry is also useful for interrupting the progression of macular degeneration, a common side effect of untreated diabetes, and cataracts, which form a cloudy blockage in the eye, leading to blindness.

Beyond maintaining eye health, bilberry also has a few other benefits. Since bilberry has shown an ability to strengthen capillaries and veins, those with circulation problems may benefit from taking the herb. Varicose veins are also helped by bilberries, which are the result of weakened veins and circulation problems. Finally, bilberry offers relief to women suffering from menstrual cramps, as anthocyanosides actually help relax the smooth muscle of the uterus, stopping the contractions that cause pain.

How Can I Make The Most Out Of Bilberry?The benefits of bilberry can be found in – well, the obvious place – Bilberries! Although very tasty and beneficial for your health, extracts of bilberry contain a much higher amount of the active ingredients than eating the fruit alone. In fact, supplements can provide upwards of 250 times more anthocyanosides than the fruit. General recommendations for bilberry extract range from 40-160mg taken 2-3 times per day. Knowing your current medical situation, including any prescription medication you might be taking, can help you and your doctor to decide if taking bilberry is right for you, although studies have found no adverse effects of bilberry on pregnancy or lactation.

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